Evelyn C Wong

Dr. Evelyn C. Wong, a veteran administrator with the Los Angeles Community College District, was chosen Wednesday to be president of the district's West Los Angeles College. Wong began her tenure with the nine-campus district at East Los Angeles College, then moved to Trade-Technical college downtown, where she is a vice president. Last year, she served as the campuses' acting president while its president was on another assignment at district headquarters.

Dr. Evelyn C. Wong, a veteran administrator with the Los Angeles Community College District, was chosen Wednesday to be president of the district's West Los Angeles College. Wong began her tenure with the nine-campus district at East Los Angeles College, then moved to Trade-Technical college downtown, where she is a vice president. Last year, she served as the campuses' acting president while its president was on another assignment at district headquarters.

The new president of West Los Angeles College knows that community colleges change lives. Look at hers. As Evelyn C. Wong, 53, explains, her extended Chinese-American family saw no reason why a girl should bother with higher education. As a result, Wong took a business course in high school, instead of a college-preparatory one. "I was going to be a secretary and work until I got married and was taken care of for the rest of my life," she recalled with a laugh.